CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M softball swept Lone Star Conference rival Eastern New Mexico on Sunday afternoon in Canyon. The Lady Buffs stormed out to a lead in game one and never looked back for a 13-1 five-inning victory. Game two saw WT comeback on the Greyhounds to defeat ENMU 12-4 in six innings.
 
The Lady Buffs improve to 34-2 in Lone Star Conference play with a 44-2 overall record while the Greyhounds fall to 26-20 on the season and 19-17 in league play.
 
WT faces a quick turnaround to host the UT Permian Basin Falcons on Wednesday, April 16 at 5 p.m.
 
THE BASICS
Game 1 Score: #1 West Texas A&M 13, Eastern New Mexico 1 (5 Inn.)
Pitching: (W) Heidi Vortherms (13-1); (L) Jordan Rivera (6-4)
The Greyhounds wasted little time in putting pressure on WT starter Emilee Boyer. A hit-by-pitch and walk put a pair of runners on the bases with two outs. On a 2-2 count, Marissa Rodriguez ripped a double into the gap where the ball bounced and went over the wall for an RBI ground-rule double.
 
The Lady Buffs answered back with four runs in the bottom of the inning as Lauren Granger started the inning with a leadoff walk. Lily Mulder replaced Granger on the bases as a pinch-runner where she was called out on runner interference. An Abby Howell walk put runners on first and second with Boyer coming to the plate. With a 2-0 count, Boyer lifted a high fly ball into center. The strong winds allowed the ball to carry over the fence and give WT the lead. With two outs in the inning, an RBI double from Halie Stoneking brought the score to 4-1.
 
WT would take a commanding lead in the bottom of the second when the Lady Buffs posted seven runs on three hits and two ENMU errors. Granger reached on one of the errors in the inning where a pair of walks loaded the bases. Trinity Kuntz forced a run with a third consecutive walk, setting up a Heaven Moreno two-RBI single to right field. With two outs, Emily Liskai ripped a triple into the gap in right before coming in on another error by the Greyhounds' pitcher.
 
The Lady Buffs would add to their lead in the bottom of the fourth when back-to-back singles from Riley Stiner and Bri Stokes put runners on. After a strikeout, Kendall Luna de la Fuente walked to load the bases. A Granger single to right plated a run and kept the bases where a two-out walk from Howell forced in another run.
 
In the fifth, Kendall Selitzky entered in relief to work a shutout inning, striking out two of the three hitters she faced.
 
Game 2 Score: #1 West Texas A&M 12, Eastern New Mexico 4 (6 Inn.)
Pitching: (W) Emilee Boyer (23-1); (L) Cierra Smith (2-4)
Eastern New Mexico put the pressure on the Lady Buffs in the first inning once again, scoring three to open the second game. A single and double down the line placed the pair of runners in scoring position before a pair of quick outs from Boyer in the circle. On a full count, Rodriguez launched a home run to center field, taking the lead for the Greyhounds.
 
WT would get on the board in the bottom of the third. A leadoff walk from Liskai advanced to third on an error by the ENMU shortstop as Granger reached first on the play. An Avery single into right-center scored Liskai, cutting the lead down to 3-1. A Howell walk loaded the bases for Boyer who also reached first on four pitches, bringing in another run. Down by a run, Cadence Colborn lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing in Avery to tie the game at three. With runners on first and third, the Lady Buffs executed a double steal to take the lead.
 
Eastern New Mexico tied the game in the top of fifth inning when a one-out hit-by-pitch came around to score on Christina Meneses' double off the wall in left-center field.
 
The Lady Buffs regained the momentum in the bottom of the fifth. A Boyer single with one out put the go-ahead runner on base. On the first pitch of her at bat, Colborn lifted a fly ball the opposite way where the ball carried over the fence in left field. With the swing, WT jumped out to a 6-4 lead as the game entered its late stages.
 
After grabbing the lead in the fifth, the Lady Buffs would end the game on a run-rule in the sixth. The inning started with Liskai singling to the gap in right followed by back-to-back walks from Granger and Avery to load the bases. With one out, WT brought home a run on a wild pitch. A walk from Boyer reloaded the bases where Colborn singled to center field to score a run. An RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Kendall Selitzky scored the Lady Buffs' ninth run of the game. With two outs, Stoneking sent the first pitch of her at bat over the center field fence, walking off game two.